Control and signal apparatus for liquid dispensers



"Feb. 18, 1930. L. R. HARTLEY CONTROL AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDDISPENSERS Filed Feb. 12, 1926 {sheets-sheet 1\lllllllllllllllllllillllll IIIIJ I 4 fiz/eizzbf Feb. 1 8, 1930.

L. 'R. HARTLEY CONTROL AND SIGNAL APPARATUS OR LIQUID msrnsmns FiledFeb. 12, 1926 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 2 DISC. 70 ,CHR

A Mine/2207."

Feb. .18, 1930. R. HARTLEY CONTROL AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDDISPENSERS 3 Sheis-Sheet 5 -Filed Feb. 12, 1926 REYURN YO YRNK 1Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE LEE R. HARTLEY, OFFORT WAYNE, IN DIANA, ASSIGN OR TO S. BOWSER & COMPANY,

me, 01'' FORT WAYNE, INDIANA,

A CORPORATION OF INDIANA CONTROL AND SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDDISPENSERS Application filed February 12, 1926. Serial No. 87,739.

ing the valve mechanism with the signal apparatus andcontrol door. Theinvention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings and described in the followingspecification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

I In the drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation, with parts insection, showing oneembodiment I of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in a differentposition; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of a dispensing device having thepresent invention applied thereto. 1

The numeral 10 designates a post or pedestal liquid dispenser having acontainer 11 at the top thereof which may be made of glass to permit theliquid within the container to be visible. Suitable pumping apparatus,not shown, is provided for filling the vessel 11 30 with gasoline orother liquid to be dispensed and-a discharge pipe 12 is provided forconducting the liquid to the tank of the automobile. The fiow of liquidthrough the pipe 12 is controlled by a valve 13 having a recess 14' forreceiving a suitable operating handle.

1 An overflow'pipe 15 extends to thetop of the vessel 11 and dischargesthrough a pipe 16 to an underground reservoir. A drain pipe 17 is alsoconnected to the vessel 11 and is connected to a valve casing 18 havinga discharge pipe 19 connected with the underground reservoir. Passage ofli uid through the valve casing 18 is controlle by a valve 20 havingavalve stem 21 extending outwardly through a packing gland 22. A spring23 normally closes the valve 20 against its seat 24. Inward the valve20.

A supporting bracket 25' is'c'onnected to com .ner posts 26 of thepedestal and is provided pressure on the stem 21 opens with a centralopening 27 closed by a swing- .ing door 28. The door 28 is hinged on apivot pin 29 and is held in its upper closed position by a lock 30. Anadjustable contact screw 31 is carried by the door 28 in position toengage a plunger 32carried in a vertically moving slide 33. A spring 34normally moves the plunger 32 outwardl In the position of the slide 33shown in' ig. 2, the

plunger 32 registers with the valve stem 21.

When the parts are in the position shown in this figure and the door28'is closed, the

plunger 32 will be moved inwardly by the contact screw 31, thus pressingthe valve stem 21 inwardlyand opening the valve 20. The,

slide 33 is connected by a rod 34 to an arm 35 secured tothe dischargevalve 36. The arm 35 is swung downwardly in the position shown in Fig.2to close the valve 36.

A second arm 37 is carried by the valve'36 and is connected by a link 38to an indicator 39. The indicator 39 is pivoted on a stud 40 mounted onthe pedestal 10. The indicator 39 projects through a slot 41 in thepedestal casing and is provided with a pointer 42 extending beyond thepedestal casing in position to be seen by the customer. The pointer 42lies behind and is concealed by a central plate 43 when the indicator isin horizontal position. This is the position the indicator assumes whenthe arm 35 is turned downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the valve 36is closed. When the valve 36 is opened the arm 35 will be raised and thearm 37 will be depressed, as shown in Fig. 3. This will move the pointer42 to a downwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 3, and willindicate to the customer that liquid is being discharged from the tank11 to the car. To prevent unauthorized discharge of liquid through thevalve 36 the door 28 is provided with a stop 44 which lies in the pathof a-projection 45 'on the slide. So long as the door 28 is closed thestop 44 will prevent upward movement of the slide 33 and thus preventthe valve-36 from being opened.

the inner end thereof. Theouter end of the Asecond indicator 46-ispivoted on the stud 40 and is provided with a rod 47 pivoted at on therod 47. The trigger 51 is provided with a contact nose 54 arranged inthe path of the door 28 for swinging the trigger into the position shownin Fig. 2 when the door is closed. This will draw the rod 47 downwardlyand raise the pointer 48 to indicate to the customer that the valve isopen for returning the liquid to the tank. When the door is 0 en thepointer 48 will be concealed behind t e plate 43 and the plunger 32 willmove upwardl as shown in Fig. 3, out of registration with the valve stem21. The

slide 33 will cover the opening in front of the vvalve stem 21 so thatwhile the door is open it will not be possible to open the valve topermit return of liquid to the supply reservoir. This is an importantfeature. of the invention since it insures against draining liquid towhich the customer is entitled,

, slide-disposed adjacent said door, and means to the customer.

back to the supply reservoir.

It will be seen that the invention provides interlocking mechanism whichprevents operation of the discharge valve by unauthor-' ized persons,since this valve is controlled by sto mechanism enclosed within'the'cas'ing an protected by a door provided with a lock. Theinterlocking mechanism also pre- 1 vents draininggasoline to thereservoir when the valve is open for supplying the gasoline Connectedwith the interlocking mechanism is a signal device which apprises thecustomer of exactly what is taking place. i

I claim q 1. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a vessel forcontaining liquid, a conduit for supplying liquid from said vessel, avalve for controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, a conduitfor returning liquid from said vessel to a supply reservoir, a valve forcontrolling the flow' of liquid through said second conduit, a casingfor enclosing saidvalves, a door for closing said casing, a

on said slide for opening the'valve in said return conduit when saiddoor is closed, said means being movable out of operative relation withsaid valve when said door is open.

2. A dispensing device comprising a vessel for containing liquid, aconduit for supplying liquid from said vessel, a valve for controllingthe flow of liquid through said' conduit, a conduit for'returning liquidfrom said vessel to a supply reservoir, a valve for controlling liquidthrough said second conduit, a casing enclosing said last-named valveand having an open ng therein, a door for closing said opening, amovable member interposedbecrating with said door to open saidsecondnamed valve when said door is closed, and means for shifting saidvalve operating means out of registration with said secondnamed valveand into position for preventing operation of said second-named valvewhen said first-named valve is open.

3. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a vessel for containingliquid, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said vessel to asupply reservoir, a casing for said valve having an opening therein, adoor for closing said opening, a slide interposed between said door andvalve, means carried by said slide for operating said valve, and meanson said door for actuating said valve operating means when; said door isclosed, said slide being movable to displace said valve operatingmeansrelative to said valve when said door is open, said slide beingarranged to prevent access to said valve whenso moved.

,4. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a vessel for containingliquid, a conduit for returning'liquid from said vessel to a supplyreservoir, a valve for closing said conduit, a casing for said valvehaving an opening therethrough, a door for closing said casing, meansoperated by said door for opening said valve when said door is closed,and a si nal device operated by said door when j sald door is closed toindicate that said valve is open. I

5. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a vessel for containingliquid, a conduit for supplying liquid from said vessel to customers, avalve for closing said conduit, a second conduit for returning liquidfrom said vesselto a supply reservoir, a valve for closing saidsecond-named conduit, a casing enclosing said second-named valve andhaving an opening therethrough, a door for closing said casing,'a slidearranged in registration with said opening, means carried by said slidefor opening said second-named valve when said door is 'closed, meansconnecting said slide with said first-named valve, and meansco-operating' with said slide for locking said first-named valve againstoperation when said door is closed.

6. A liquid dispensing device comprising a vessel for containing liquid,a conduit for supplying liquid from said vessel, a valve for controllingsaid conduit, a second conduit for returning liquid from said vessel toa supply reservoir, a valve for controlling said se'condconduit, acasing enclosing said lastnamed valve and having an openingtherethrough, a door for closing said casing, a slide interposed betweensaid last-named valve and door, a plunger carried by said slide, meanson said door for engaging said plunger to'opensaid second valve whensaid duit through which liquid purchased by a door is closed, a signaldevice operated by said door to indicate that said second-named valve isopen when said door is closed, means connecting said first-named valvewith said slide, means on said door co-operating with said slide toprevent opening of said firstnamed valve when said door 1s closed, and asignal device connected with said first-named valve to indicate whensaid valve is open.

7. In combination a dispensing apparatus having a conduit for deliveryliquid purchased by a customer, and mechanically operated signalmechanism associated with said apparatus for indicating to a customerwhen the passage through said conduit is unobstructed.

8. In a dispensing apparatus having a concustomer is delivered, thecombination of valve mechanism for controlling the passage through saidconduit, and mechanically operated signal mechanism controlled by saidvalve mechanism for indicating to the cuspassage through said conduit isunobstructed.

9. In a dispensing apparatus having a conduit through which liquidpurchased by a customer is delivered, the combination of valve mechanismfor controlling the passage through said conduit,'and mechanicallyoperated signal mechanism controlled by said valve mechanism forindicating to the customer when the passage through said conduit isunobstructed, said signal mechanism comprising a pointer movable from-anon-indi-- catmg positlon into an 1nd1cat1ng position in response to theoperation of said valve mechanism.

10. In a dispensin apparatus having a conduit through whicliquid-purchased by a customer is delivered, a valve for controllingsaid conduit, a reservoir from which the liquid is drawn, valvemechanism for returning the unpurchased liquid to the reservoir afterbeing drawn therefrom, a pair of si a1 arms for indicating to thecustomer the position of the valve mechanism for the delivery conduitand the valve mechanism for the return to the reservoir.

11. In a dispensing apparatus having a conduit through which liquidpurchased by a customer is delivered, a valve for control-- ling saidconduit, a reservoir from which the liquid is drawn, valve mechanism forreturning the unpurchased liquid to the reservoir after being drawntherefrom, a pair of signal arms for indicating to the customer theposition of the valve mechanism for the delivery conduit and the valvemechanism for thereturn to the reservoir, both of said signal armsadapted to occupy a non-indicating position and movable into theirrespective indicating positions in response to the operation of both ofsaid valve mechanisms.

ing a vessel for containing liquid, means fordispensing liquid'froinsaid vessel, means for draining liquld from said vessel to a supplyreservoir, a pair of indicators, means for moving one of said indicatorsin one direction when liquid is being dispensed from said vessel, andmeans for moving the other 1nd1- cator in the opposite direction whenliquid is being drained to said supply reservoir. I

13. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a vessel for containingliquid, a conduit for withdrawing. liquid from said conduit, a

valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said conduit, a secondconduit for returning liquid from said vessel to a supply reservoir, anadditional valve for controlling the flow of liquidthrough said secondconduit, interlocking means for preventing simultaneous opening of bothof said valves, and two pointers one associated with each of said valvesto assume a central position when the valve corresponding thereto isclosed, one of said pointers being movable from its central position inone direction when the corresponding valve is opened while the other ofsaid pointers is movable from said central position in the oppositedirection when the valve corresponding thereto is I opened.

14. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a vessel for containingliquid, a dispensing conduit connected thereto, a valve for controllingthe flow of liquid through said conduit, a second conduit for returningliquid from said vessel to a supply reservoir, another valve forcontrolling the How of liquid through said second conduit, an enclosingcasing, a door for an opening in said casing, means operative when saidfirst-named valve is closed to efiect the opening of said secondnamedvalve when said .door is closed, and a signal device for: indicatingwhen the firstnamed valve is open.

15. A liquid dispensing device comprising a vessel for containingliquid, a dispensing conduit connected to said vessel,-another conduitfor draining said vessel, valves for controlling the flow of liquidthrough said conduits, a casing enclosing saidvalves, a

door for on opening in said casing,means for. v

conduit connected to said vessel, a draining 1 conduit connected to saidvessel, valves for controlling-the flow of liquid through said conduits,a casing enclosing said valves, means extending to a position outside ofsaid casing for actuating the valve for controlling connections betweensaid signal arm and said dispensing valve for holding said signal armthe flow of fluid in the said dispensing con-' duit, a door forsaid-casing, means operable by the closure of said door when thedispensing conduit'valve is closed for opening the'valve in the drainingconduit, and means for locking the dispensing conduit valve in closedposition when the door is closed and said draining valve is open.

17 Dispensing apparatus comprising a vessel adapted to contain liquid, adispensing conduit connected thereto, a valve for. controlling the flowof liquidthrough said dispensing conduit, a draining conduit connectedto said vessel, a draining valve for controlling the flow of liquidthrough said draining conduit, means comprising an actuating plunger foropening said draining valve when the plunger is in a predeterminedposition, a

movable support for said plunger, and connections between said movablesupport and the dispensing valve for holding said plunger in inoperativeposition except when said dis- .pensin valve is in closed position.

18. vessel for containing liquid, a dispensing conduit connectedthereto, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through saiddispensing conduit, a draining conduit connected to said Elli vessel, avalve controlling the flow of liquid through said draining conduit, acasing for enclosing said valves, a door for said casing,

means comprisin a plunger for opening saidconduit connected thereto, avalve for C0ll-' trolling the flow of liquid through said dispenslngconduit, a caslng for enclosing said valve, means extending to aposition outside of said casing for operating said valve, a door forsald casing, and means connected between sald door and said valve whenthe door a is closed and the-said valve is closed for pre-;

venting the opening of said valve.

20. In dispensing apparatus, the combination with a dispensing conduit,of a valve for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, a supplyreservoir,-means comprising valve mechanism for controlling the returnofunpurchased liquid to ,such supply reservoir, a signal arm, a screen forsaid signal arm, and

' concealed by said screen when the dispensing valveisclosed and to movesaid signal arm to a position visible to the customer when ispensingapparatus comprising av the dispensing valve is open for delivery ofliquid throu h said dispensingconduit;

21. In a 'spensing apparatus, the combination with a dispensing conduit,of .a valve for controlling the flow of liquid therethrongh, a drainconduit, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said drainconduit, means for opening said drain valve when the dispensing valveis' closed, a pair of signal arms for indicating the position of thevalve for the dispensing conduit and the position of the valve forthedrain conduit, and connections between said signal arms and themechanism for operating said valves to operate such signal arms toindicate when the valve in the dispensing conduit is open and toindicate when the valve in the drain conduit is open.

22. In dispensing apparatus, the combination with a dispensing conduit,of avalve for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, a drainconduit, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through said drainconduit, a casing for enclosing said valves, a door for said casing,means operable by the closure of said door when the. dispensing valve isclosed for opening the drain valve,

a signalling device connected to the dispensing valve to indicate whenthe latter is open, and another signalling device operable upon theopening ofsaid drain valve by the closure of said door for indicatingsuch opening of the drain valve.

23. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising avisible measuring vessel,means for controlling the dispensing of liquid from said measuringvessel, a drain valve for dicator, connections between said openingmeans and said indicator for'operating the latter when said drain valveis open to indicate flow of liquid from said measuring tank to saidsupply reservoir, and a spring for automatically restoring saidindicator when said drain valve is closed and said connections arereleased.

controlling the flow of liquid from said measurmg vessel to a storagereservo1r,'andmeans 25. In dispensing ap aratus, the combina- I tionwith mechanism or dispensing a liquid, of means for draining suchdispensing mechanism into a storage reservoir, mechanism for indicatingwhether liquid is being,

26. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination with dispensingmechanism comprising a measuring tank and a controlling dispensingvalve, means for draining the liquid from said measuring tankindependently of said valve, interlocking connections between saiddraining means and said valve to hold the same closed While the liquidis being drained from said tank, and signalling mechanism for indicatingthe nature of flow from said tank. a

27. In dispensing apparatus, the combination With dispensing mechanismcomprising a dispensing controlling valve, means for draining liquidfrom the dispensing mechanism, signallin mechanism for indicatingdispensing of t e liquid, additional signalling mechanism forindicatingdraining of the liquid, and interlocking connections betweensaid draining means and said valve for holdin the latter closed duringthe draining 0 the liquid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this9th day of February, AQD. 1926. i

LEE R. HARTLEY.

